Dental caries continues to be a public health issue, especially more evident in underserved populations throughout the U.S. Unfortunately, especially with an ageing population, hundreds of thousands of resin composite restorations are replaced each year due to recurring decay and fracture. According to a number of cohort studies, the average life-span of this type of restoration is 10 years or less, depending on the caries risk level of the patient and on the complexity of the restorative procedure. This proposal represents an effort to develop novel antimicrobial structures, based on a targeted approach specifically against dysbiotic biofilm. Bacterial coalescence will be prevented by using GTF inhibitors, made polymerizable by functionalization with stable methacrylamides. In addition, MMP-inhibiting moieties will be added to a polymerizable monomer, improving the stability of the collagen in the hybrid layer. Ultimately, this will save millions of dollars annually and the unnecessary loss of additional tooth structure that comes with every re-treatment. The proposed approach will improve the longevity of restorations by: 1. Designing monomers containing known GTF-inhibiting moieties, thus making them available non-transiently at the surface of restorations. 2.Utilizing polymerizable functionalities that depart from the water/esterase-labile methacrylates. Methacrylamides are well known for their resistance to degradation by hydrolysis, and the systems proposed here will also be stable to enzymatic attack. 3. Incorporating MMP-inhibiting moieties on the methacrylamide monomer to the used as the adhesive, thus preserving the integrity of the collagen long-term. 4. Testing the materials in a physiologically relevant environment, mimicking the conditions in the mouth in terms of mechanical loading, bacterial challenge and presence of saliva.

Public Health Relevance

With the huge numbers of esthetic direct dental composites restoration being placed every year in the US, enhancements in their reliability and clinical longevity offer significant health care benefits to the general public. The new polymer system we are developing will produce a restorative with the capacity to prevent colonization of mouth surfaces with oral bacteria, and to preserve the tooth collagen component by incorporating compounds capable of inhibiting the action of collagen-degrading enzymes. In summary, this proposal targets host and bacterial enzymes to minimize or eliminate degradation of biomaterials/tissue interfaces over time, resulting in longer-lasting adhesive restorations, including direct composites and indirect crowns and bridges bonded with resin cements/adhesives.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Unknown (R35)
Project #
5R35DE029083-02
Application #
9985797
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDE1)
Program Officer
Lopez, Orlando
Project Start
2019-09-01
Project End
2027-06-30
Budget Start
2020-07-01
Budget End
2021-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Oregon Health and Science University
Department
Dentistry
Type
Schools of Dentistry/Oral Hygn
DUNS #
096997515
City
Portland
State
OR
Country
United States
Zip Code
97239